Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
 | I. |
|
|
Harmony.
|
| II. |
|
|
|
 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Harmony.
While to his Lyre he tunes his
vocal Strains,
The very bloodless Ghosts Attention keep,
And silent, seem compassionate to weep:
Ev'n Tantalus, the Flood, unthirsty, views,
Nor flies the Stream, nor he the Stream pursues:
Ixion's wond'ring Wheel its Whirl suspends,
And the voracious Vultur, charm'd, attends:
No more the Belides their Toil bemoan,
And Sisiphus sits list'ning on his Stone.
Then first, 'tis said, by Harmony subdu'd,
The Furies felt their Cheeks with Tears bedew'd.—
The very bloodless Ghosts Attention keep,
And silent, seem compassionate to weep:
Ev'n Tantalus, the Flood, unthirsty, views,
Nor flies the Stream, nor he the Stream pursues:
Ixion's wond'ring Wheel its Whirl suspends,
And the voracious Vultur, charm'd, attends:
No more the Belides their Toil bemoan,
And Sisiphus sits list'ning on his Stone.
Then first, 'tis said, by Harmony subdu'd,
The Furies felt their Cheeks with Tears bedew'd.—
A Hill there was, and on that Hill a Mead,
With Verdure thick, but destitute of Shade:
Where, now, the Muse's Son no sooner sings,
No sooner strikes his sweet resounding Strings,
But distant Groves the flying Sounds receive,
And list'ning Trees their rooted Stations leave:
Themselves transplanting, all around they grow,
And various Shades their various Kinds bestow.
Here, tall Chaônian Oaks their Branches spread,
While weeping Poplars there erect their Head:
The tow'ring Esculus here shoots his Leaves,
That Spot the Lime-tree, this the Beach receives:
Here, brittle Hazels, Lawrels here advance,
And there tough Ash, to form the Hero's Lance:
Here silver Firs, with knotless Trunks ascend,
There, scarlet Oaks beneath their Acorns bend.
That Turf admits the hospitable Plane,
On this the Maple grows with clouded Grain.
Here watry Willows are with Lotus seen,
There Tamarisk, and Box for ever green.
With twofold Hue here Myrtles grace the Ground,
And Laurestines with purple Berries crown'd.
Here wanton Ivy's pliant Branches wind;
Vines yonder rise, and Elms with Vines entwin'd.
Wild Ornus now, the Pitch Tree now takes Root,
And Arbutus, adorn'd with blushing Fruit.
Then easy bending Palms, the Victor's Prize,
And Pines erect with bristly Tops, arise.—
With Verdure thick, but destitute of Shade:
Where, now, the Muse's Son no sooner sings,
No sooner strikes his sweet resounding Strings,
But distant Groves the flying Sounds receive,
And list'ning Trees their rooted Stations leave:
Themselves transplanting, all around they grow,
And various Shades their various Kinds bestow.
Here, tall Chaônian Oaks their Branches spread,
While weeping Poplars there erect their Head:
469
That Spot the Lime-tree, this the Beach receives:
Here, brittle Hazels, Lawrels here advance,
And there tough Ash, to form the Hero's Lance:
Here silver Firs, with knotless Trunks ascend,
There, scarlet Oaks beneath their Acorns bend.
That Turf admits the hospitable Plane,
On this the Maple grows with clouded Grain.
Here watry Willows are with Lotus seen,
There Tamarisk, and Box for ever green.
With twofold Hue here Myrtles grace the Ground,
And Laurestines with purple Berries crown'd.
Here wanton Ivy's pliant Branches wind;
Vines yonder rise, and Elms with Vines entwin'd.
Wild Ornus now, the Pitch Tree now takes Root,
And Arbutus, adorn'd with blushing Fruit.
Then easy bending Palms, the Victor's Prize,
And Pines erect with bristly Tops, arise.—
Thus the sweet Artist in a wondrous Shade
Of verdant Trees, which Harmony had made,
Encircled sat, with his own Triumphs crown'd,
Of list'ning Birds, and savage Beasts around.
Again, the trembling Strings he dextrous tries,
Again from Discord charmful Sounds arise.—
Of verdant Trees, which Harmony had made,
Encircled sat, with his own Triumphs crown'd,
Of list'ning Birds, and savage Beasts around.
Again, the trembling Strings he dextrous tries,
Again from Discord charmful Sounds arise.—
Sooth'd by his Songs, from Erebus profound
Th' unbody'd Fantoms, and thin Spectres rose:
Unnumber'd, as the Birds which flock in Woods,
Driv'n from the Hills by Ev'ning, or a Storm.
Ev'n Death's dread Realms, the deep Recess of Hell,
In silent Wonder listen'd to his Song,
And with blew curling shakes the Furies wreath'd:
Grim Cerb'rus, yawning, his three Mouths repress'd:
And with the Wind Ixion's Orb stood still.—
Th' unbody'd Fantoms, and thin Spectres rose:
Unnumber'd, as the Birds which flock in Woods,
Driv'n from the Hills by Ev'ning, or a Storm.
Ev'n Death's dread Realms, the deep Recess of Hell,
In silent Wonder listen'd to his Song,
And with blew curling shakes the Furies wreath'd:
Grim Cerb'rus, yawning, his three Mouths repress'd:
And with the Wind Ixion's Orb stood still.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |